Short Story Sunday – “Destiny”

25Jan

Destiny

She never had believed in destiny. It was merely a word to describe those that didn’t want to own up to circumstances that their choices had brought them to. Both of her brothers believed that they were each destined to the throne, going about what they thought would help them reach this goal, but she knew it would take more than a preordained fate for someone to secure control of the kingdom.

Sterling believed his destiny would be obtained by power, his strength the key to becoming king. No king would be able to keep his country protected or under control with a weak hand. Understanding how the land and people worked would come after.

Jett was the opposite of his twin, opting to use his wisdom to help meet his destiny. Knowledge of the land, its weak points, its strengths, would be the best ally in gaining the throne if one asked him. Trade and crops would bring along the benefits of allies that would help his land flourish. Loyal soldiers would come after.

Pearl believed in none of that poppycock. If she left her fate up to destiny, then she would surely be only a pawn to be married off to secure some political alliance or other, to help carry on some nobleman’s bloodline. She was taking destiny like one would take a bull by the horns, wrestling control of her fate with her own plans. She had the courage to take the country out from under the noses of her older brothers, knowing that neither Sterling nor Jett would be the kind of ruler that their country deserved.

She had studied the pair of them and the people around. It wasn’t the army or the land that made a country. It was the people. She reached out to both the nobles and the working classes, manipulating both sides to figure out what made them tick, what they truly wanted. She made allies with peasants and dukes, stable hands and princesses, putting on a brave face for her plans. It was tricky and, truth be told, she was scared of any repercussions that may befall her head should her plans be found out by either her parents or her brothers. They were necessary, however, to help her take the country and give it the type of ruler that they needed.

The country didn’t just need a strong army or a plethora of good crops, not at this time. What it needed was a ruler who understood the people, and that was what Pearl would be.